Combined potato marker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.;

(No Model.)

B. (3'. SCHROEDER.

GOMBINED POTATO MARKER, HILLBR, AND BIGGER.

N0. 316,403. Patented Apr 21, 1885.

Witnesses:

[nven tar." 527m. %m/W,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. GJSGHROEDER.

COMBINED POTA TO MARKER, HILLBB, AND BIGGER.

Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

Inventor.

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NITE YATES arnnrr rrrcn.

ERNEST CHARLES SOHROEDER, OF ITASKA, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,403, dated Aprilv21, 1885 Application filed Mayl], 1884. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST CHARLES SOI-IROEDER, of ltaska, in the countyof Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented new and usefulImprovements in a Combination Plow consisting of Potato Marker, Hiller,and Digger, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in an agricultural implement; andit consists of a plow comprising a combination of mechanical parts,which renders the same suitable for marking furrows for planting,billing, and extracting potatoes. The plow is of simple pattern,durable, easy and lightto handle, and

by changing the arrangement of some of its movableifparts the same isreadily converted from its first introduction.

The different matters of improvement will be more clearly defined in theclaims, and re late chiefly to construction.

I refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents theplow in side elevation and in the position for laying off furrows. Fig.2 is a top view of the same with expanded wings, as represented indotted lines. Fig. 3 represents alongitudinal section in relation toFig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, showing the different positions of thewings and shovel when the implement is used as a hiller or digger, thelatter position indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a front view of theshare-beam, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the plow-shovel. Fig. 6 showsin detail one of the two coupling-arms connected with the hinge on thewing, and Fig. 7 represents a vertical section taken on line of centerof the hinge.

In explaining my invention I refer particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, which illustrate fully the improved features of the implement.The curved share-beam a of the shoe A has in equidistant intervalscorresponding inclined recesses, 12 I), followed subsequently by aslotted portion, (1, which is in extent equal to the accumulated spaceof the former, and is provided with sidewise-projecting flanges e e,fforsupporting the shovel and properly securing the same in the adjustedposition. The rear part of the share-beam, opposite the recesses,carries an embodied projecting cylindrical head, B, with a bolt-hole incenter, and radially grooved faces 9 g, for connection with thecoupling-arms. The top part of the share-beam terminates in a flangedsupport, h, for the reception and securing the draft-beam G of the plow,while the lower extension or foot, z, of the shoe has near its end arecessed projecting part, 70, for securing the standard D in positionrelative to its connection with the draft-beam.

The plow-shovel E is, as usually, triangularshaped, slightly raised inthe center, sloping sidewise, and curving in its extension toward thepoint, having between the angular bearings of the top part, in line ofcenter of the shovel, a V-shaped projecting hook, Z, from the surface ofthe metal, raised by way of impression, intended to fit and butt in therecesses b b. Below the said hook Z, coinciding with the slotted part d,the shovel is perforated with a square and countersunk hole, m, for thereception of a fitting screw-bolt, v, for rigidly secur. ing the same tothe share-beam.

The wings F F are made of sheet metal, of even surface and proper size,but irregular in shape. The ends are in right angle to the base, with atapering top part, and provided on their inner sides, at the base, witha rake, n at, its teeth uniformly projecting to a certain extent. Thefront parts are mounted with hinges 0 0, while near the center portioneach wing carries on a hook a bended brace-bar, 10 p, of sufiicientlength to reach the standard D, for fastening, said brace-bars having aseries of holes for adjusting the spread of the wings each independentlyfrom the other, and secured in their respective positions byathumb-screw passing through the center of the standard.

GG are curved coupling-arms connecting the wings with the cylindricalhead 13 of the share-beam, and bent for the purpose of keeping the frontpart of the wings within the width of the shovel. The bifurcated rearends of the arms are rounded at r r, and have center holes for thereception of a pin, 8. The front part of the arms terminate infriction-collars t and t, the same provided with center holes forengaging with and turning vertically on the cylindrical head B in anyrequired direction, secured by a tightening screw-bolt, a.

The hinges o 0 are identically constructed.

in their upper and lower parts, and provided with lugs w w, projectingfrom the base of a cavity, was, purposely caved to allow the bifurcatedpart of the arms G G to turn freely in the same, and the inner surfaceof the lugs is correspondingly arched to fit the curved or rounded partsrr of thebifurcated part of the arms, and provided with similar centerholes, but larger in .diameter, allowing the pin 8, which connects thearm to the hinge, to play in same, the aforesaid curvature of thebifurcated parts of the arms and the lugs allowing an oscillatingmovement in any direction, imparting a rocking motion to the wings,partially evading the concussion caused by obstacles encountered, andcausing the bearing strain to be thrown off the center of thefriction-collars of the arms.

The plow isused in the first instance as a marker, as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, for laying off the furrows, and for this object the hingedwings are turned up and drawn closely together at their ends, and heldin position by the brace-bars secured by the thumb-screw on thestandard, the rakes and teeth turned upward to be out of the way, andcan be readily changed from a marker into a hiller by turning the armsdownward and expanding the wings in position to their utmost capacity bythe supporting-braces. This operation brings the front ends of the wingsnearer together within the space of the shovel for the purpose ofassisting in conveying to the hills and covering the vegetable with thesoil turned up by the shovel or any earth accidentally carried over thetop of the same, leaving a level unobstructed furrow, affording athorough drainage, as shown in Fig. 3 by full lines.

In using the implement for a digger, the wings are detached from thearms by removing the pins, then interchanged and fastened again to thesame, by which operation the rakes and teeth are reversed to the marker.To perform the work designated, the wings are expanded as in the hiller,but their rear part elevated by adjusting the arms at the cylindricalhead, as shown in Fig. 3 by dotted lines.

The shovel in the marker and hiller is set in any suitable low position,in the former ac cording to the'proposed depth of the furrows, and inthe latter in turning the soil between the furrows sufficient to performthe functions of a hiller. 'When the implement is required to serve as adigger, the shovel is brought up in the highest recess, and consequentlysteep in position, its point projecting in an acute angle below the toeof the shoe, which forces the shovel below, causing the extraction ofthe vegetable. The shovel in all these defined situations is held inplace by tightening the screw-bolt which passes through the blade andslotted space of the share-beam. The shovel rests with its sloping sidesagainst the flanged part, causing a space between the same and thesharebeam, at the same time causing the angular. hooked part to butt inthe required recess.

I claim- 1. In a plow adapted for marking, billing, and diggingpotatoes, the shoe A,constructed,

substantially as herein described, with front recesses, 22 b, slottedpart d, and projecting side flanges, e e, on the standard or sharebeam(1, the same also provided on its rear part with a projectingcylindrical head, B, having on its sides radial grooves g y andon itstop part a flanged support, h, and on the foot 6 of the shoe aprojecting recessed part, 70, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the cylindrical head 13 of the share-beam a, thecurved arms G G, having bifurcated rear ends, the same arched at r r,their front parts shaped .into frictioncolla-rst 15, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with arms G G, secured to the share-beam a, the hinges0 0, fastened to the wings F F, having curved lugs to w, the same risingfrom the base of a cavity, was, in the metal, and provided with centerholes, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the hinges o 0', arms G G, fastened tocylindrical head B, and the wings F F, each mountedwith rakes n n andbrace-bars p 19, said wings being interchangeable, substantially asdescribed, and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

ELIJAH SMITH, FRANK A. SMITH.

IOO

